Timeout

Anthony Joshua given new opponent as Kubrat Pulev pulls out

Anthony Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev has been called off after the Bulgarian suffered an injury to his right shoulder
suffered in sparring.

With Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium already booked and sold out for the fight on Saturday week, promoter Eddie Hearn has quickly
moved to replace Pulev with Carlos Takam.

Takam, who is ranked number three in the world by the IBF, has accepted the fight at short notice.

The 36-year-old has lost just three of his 39 professional fights in his career but he’ll still be a huge outsider against
the undefeated heavyweight champion when the two square off in Cardiff.

Speaking about the change of plans, Hearn said that Takam should be ready as the Cameroonian has been on stand-by in case
there was a change of plan.

“When the Pulev fight was announced I made a deal with Takam’s team to begin camp and be on standby for this fight. When
I called them this evening they were overjoyed and good to go. It’s a difficult position for AJ having prepared meticulously
for the style and height of Pulev, he now faces a completely different style and challenge in Takam – this hasn’t happened
in his career before but he is ready for all comers on October 28.”